DMR tracking update
Using Digital APRS data to find coverage problems
During the Ashgate Sparkle event last month our Sweep walker was sending position beacons at a fixed interval over our portable DMR repeater, with this data being recorded at control.
Since these position reports where received on our regular repeater channel instead of via a different mode and band we can use this as a repeater coverage indicator. Using a new update to the Event Comms application we have been able to generate real coverage stats for our repeaters coverage.
The image below shows:
- The planned route (in black, behind the green line).
- The received position reports joined by either:
- a green line where there are no missed position points (based on the received point time interval approximately matching the transmitted beacon interval).
- an amber line where there are up to 2 missing points.
- a red line would join points where more than 2 points are missing.
As you can see our repeater coverage is pretty good, but additional power may be needed at the south end.
This also shows that the recorded data has additional post event benefits.